Sanitary cover for cans



March 14, 1944. s N. DONNER 2 3 SANITARY COVER FOR CANS Filed July 10, 1943 a o 20 a v INVENTOR. frfpflm /1 Dav/vie Patented Mar. 14, 1944 Stephen .N. Donner,- Detroit, Mich assignor of smea Jcss riaeae tw h- Applicationluly 1943 Serial No. 494,441

improvement is to provide cans containing milk, juices The purpose of my a practical cover for include a novel combination of elements as will be presently described.

In addition to the above, my aim was to devise a cover of pleasing appearance but one that would Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my cover, partly broken oiT, and showing the manner in which it may be operatively secured to the top of a can;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my cover for cans, showing its movable elements out of engagement with the top of the can on which it is seated;

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The cover shown by me in the above drawings comprises a circular plat I 0 Of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of a can to which the cover is to be secured. The plate contains two diametrically opposed apertures ll, disposed close to its rim and journalled for the reception or an adthe frictional grip Of the flange on the can. On each side of plate In, adjoining apertures II, the plate is separated from the flange by a slot. As will be noted, there are two such slots, marked l5 and I6 respectively.

Mounted on said plate l0, and aligned with apertures II, are two posts l1, joined at the top b a yoke Hi. The posts serve as guides for a horizontal bar I 9, containing two holes spaced from each other so as to fit over the outer diameindicated by numeral 22, are aligned in a perpendicular position with respect to the circular plate I 0 and over the respective aperture I I. ball is preferably made of metal, although a plasat their lower ends against bar [9.

Midway, between the ends of bar I9 is a perpendicular column 24, aflixed to the bar and passing upwardly through an aperture 3|, centrally located in yoke l8, as shown in Fig. 1. The column is slotted at the upper end to accommodate therein a lever 25, fulcrumed in the slot by means of a cross pin 26. One arm or the lever, namely the longer one, serves as a handle 26, whil the shorter arm, bears against yoke [8.

I shall now describe the use of my cover. In order that it might be afiixed to the top of a can, flange It! must be sufiiciently loosened by means top to cause spikes 22 to perforate the top wall 29 of can 30. Flange l0 may now be tightened by means of said screw l4.

It will be noted that the extent of the penetration of the spikes into the top wall 29 is limited by balls 2 In their position right over the spikes, and being partly nested in the depressions made in the top of the can by spikes when made therein, the balls serve as efiective means of sealing said perforations.

In order to pour out the contents of the can, the spikes must be withdrawn from the openings made by them. This is done by means of said lever 25, which is raised by means of handle 2! to a perpendicular position, whereby the shorter arm 28, bearing against yoke I 8, will cause column 24 to slide upwardly in aperture 3| in yoke [8. As column 24 is aflixed to bar l9, it will raise said bar and the spikes which are attached to The perforations in the top of the can are thus exposed and the contents of the can may be poured out through slot l5 or slot l6 as the case may be.

When it is desired to seal the perforations in the top of the can, lever 25 is brought down from its perpendicular position as shown in Fig. 3 to tions and the balls to seal them.

Having thus described my improvement and its operation, what I wish to claim is the following:

1. Cover for cans of the kind described comtic or some other material may be found suitprising a circular plate having two diametrically opposed apertures at its rim, a circular flange depending therefrom to grip the top of the can on which the cover is seated, a movable horizontal bar, having! at each end on its under-side a ball with a spike projecting from it downwardly and over the respective aperture in the plate, an upright column on said bar and having a perpendicular slot in its upper end, a stationary yoke above and parallel to the movable bar, being supported at each end by, a post mounted on the plate and having a centrally located passage for the upright column, a coiled spring around each post to keep the bar and the yoke in a yieldingly spaced relation to each other, a two-armedlever fulcrumed in the slot of the column, one arm of said lever slidingly bearing against the upper surface of the stationary yoke to bring the movable bar with its spikes into or out of engagement with the top of the can.

2. A cover for cans of the kind described, comprising a circular plate having two diametrically opposed apertures at the rim, a circular flange depending therefrom to adjustably grip the top of the can to which the cover is applied, a horizontal slot in the flange on each side of the plate adjoining the aperture therein, a movable horizontal bar, having at each end on its underside, a ball with a spike projecting from it downwardly and over the respective aperture in the plate, an upright column on said bar and having a perpendicular slot in its upper end, a stationary yoke above and parallel to the movable bar, being supported at each end by a post mounted on the plate and having a centrally located passage for the upright column, a coiled spring around each post to keep the bar and the yoke in a yieldingly spaced relation to each other, a two-armed lever, fulcrumed in the said slot of the column, one arm of said lever serving as a handle, and the other bearing slidingly against ,7 the upper surface of the stationary yoke to actuate the movable bar. by means of said column and to bring said bar with its spikes into or out of engagement with the top of the can.

STEPHEN N. DONNER. 

